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S.I. No. 199/1996:
TRADE MARKS
RULES, 1996
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TRADE MARKS RULES, 1996
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ARRANGEMENT OF
RULES
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Preliminary
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Rule
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1. Short title.
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2. Interpretation.
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3. Commencement.
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4. Fees.
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5. Certificates for use in registration abroad.
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6. Classification of goods and services.
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7. Signature of document.
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8. Filing of documents.
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9. Documents in a foreign language.
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10. Address for service.
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11. Revocation of previous rules.
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Application for
Registration
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12. Form of application.
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13. Claim to priority.
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14. Application may be for more than one class.
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15. Matters not registrable.
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Procedures on
Receipt of Application
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16. Search.
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17. Publication.
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18. Notice of opposition to registration.
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19. Counter - statement.
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20. Evidence in support of opposition.
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21. Evidence in support of application.
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22. Evidence in reply by opponent.
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23. Further evidence.
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24. Exhibits.
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25. Hearing.
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26. Amendment of application.
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27. Notification of Controller's decision and
grounds.
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Division, Merger
and Series of Marks
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28. Division of application.
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29. Merger of separate applications or
registrations.
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30. Registration of a series of trade marks.
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Collective and
Certification Marks
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31. Application under section 54.
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32. Amendment of regulations governing use of
collective marks.
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33. Application under section 55.
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34. Amendment of regulations governing use of
certification marks.
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Alteration or
Surrender of Registered Trade Mark
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35. Alteration of registered trade mark.
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36. Surrender of registered trade mark.
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Renewal and
Restoration
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37. Reminder of renewal of registration.
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38. Renewal of registration.
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39. Delayed renewal and removal of
registration.
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40. Restoration of registration.
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Revocation,
Invalidation and Rectification
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41. Procedure on application for revocation,
declaration of invalidity and rectification of the register.
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The Register
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42. Form of register.
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43. Entry in register of particulars of
registered trade marks.
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44. Entry in register of particulars of
registrable transactions.
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45. Application to register transactions under
section 29.
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46. Notices under section 31.
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47. Public inspection of register.
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48. Supply of certified copies, etc..
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49. Request for change of name or address in
register.
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50. Change of classification.
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Registered Trade
Mark Agents
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51. Applications for registration.
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52. Proof of authorisation of agent may be required.
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53. Entry in the register of trade mark agents.
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54. Publication of entries in register of trade
mark agents.
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55. Payment of annual registration fee.
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56. Request for removal from register of trade
mark agents.
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57. Notice to Controller of application to the
Court under subsection (3) of section 88.
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58. Application for restoration to register of
trade mark agents.
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59. Controller may refuse to deal with certain
agents.
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Powers and Duties
of Controller, Evidence and Costs
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60. Provision of information and inspection of
documents.
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61. Hearing.
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62. Controller's power to require documents,
information or evidence.
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63. General power to enlarge time.
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64. Costs.
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65. Form of statutory declaration.
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66. Statutory declaration made outside the
State.
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67 Notice of seal of officer making declaration
to prove itself.
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Application to
and Orders of Court
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68. Application to Court.
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69. Order of Court.
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Miscellaneous
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70. Excluded days.
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71. Searches.
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72. Pending applications for registration.
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73. Time limit for payment of fees required for
registration.
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74. Power to dispense with evidence, signature
&c.
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75. General power of amendment.
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76. Partial assignments.
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77. Non-exclusive licence.
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78. Form for conversion of pending application.
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79. Forms.
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Schedule 1
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Fees payable.
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Schedule 2
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Forms:
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Form No. 1: Application for registration of a trade mark.
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Form No. 2: Notice under paragraph 9(2) of the Third Schedule to the
Act.
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Schedule 3
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Rules revoked.
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S.I. No. 199 of 1996.
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TRADE MARKS RULES 1996
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I, Richard Bruton, Minister for Enterprise and Employment, in exercise of
the powers conferred on me by section 81 of the Trade Marks Act, 1996 (No. 6
of 1996), and in exercise, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, of
the powers conferred on me by section 82 of that Act, and in exercise of the
powers conferred on me by section 92 (1) of the Patents Act, 1992 (No. 1 of
1992), as amended by section 73 of the Trade Marks Act, 1996 , hereby make
the following rules:
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Preliminary
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Short title.
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1. These rules may be cited as the Trade Marks Rules, 1996.
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Interpretation.
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2. (1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires�
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"the Act" means the Trade Marks Act, 1996 (No. 6 of 1996);
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"agent" means an agent duly authorised in accordance with
these Rules and registered in the Register of Trade Mark Agents;
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"form" means a form set out in Schedule 2;
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"Schedule" means one of the Schedules to these rules;
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"section" means a section of the Act;
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"specification" means the statement of goods or services in
respect of which a trade mark is registered or proposed to be registered.
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(2) In these Rules a subsection of a section is indicated by a number
enclosed in brackets immediately following the number of the section.
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Commencement.
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3. These Rules shall come into operation on the first day of July,
1996.
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Fees.
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4. (1) The fees to be paid in relation to any matter under the
Act and these Rules shall be those specified in Schedule I.
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(2) Fees shall be paid in the currency of the State. Save as
otherwise provided in this Rule, payment of a fee or fees by any person shall
be made by cheque payable to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment and
crossed "& Co.", guaranteed to the satisfaction of the
Controller, drawn on any bank carrying on business in the State and presented
at the Office with the application or the matter to which it relates.
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(3) Payment of a fee or fees by a person who, at the date of payment,
is outside the State shall be made by banker's draft, or Post Office Money
Order, payable to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment and crossed
"& Co.", and sent by post to the Office.
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(4) Any fee or fees paid at the Office not exceeding �200 may be paid
in cash.
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(5) (a) A request for the remission of the whole or part of any fee
properly paid shall be made in writing.
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(b) No appeal shall lie from any decision of the Controller in
respect of such a request.
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Certificates for use in
obtaining registration abroad.
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5. (a) The Controller may issue certificates for use in
connection with applications for registration abroad of marks which are the
subject of applications pending before the Controller or which he or she has
registered in the register.
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(b) A certificate shall contain such information about a pending
application or a registration as may be appropriate.
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Classification of goods and
services.
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6. For the purposes of the registration of trade marks, goods
and services shall be classified as specified in the Nice Nice Agreement
Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the
Purposes of the Registration of Marks (1957), as revised at Stockholm (1967)
and at Geneva (1977), and as amended.
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Signature of documents.
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7. A document purporting to be signed by. or on behalf of, a
partnership or body corporate shall be signed, by any person who is duly
authorised to sign the document.
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Filing of documents.
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8. (a) (i) Any application, notice or other document
authorised or required under the Act or these Rules to be delivered to the
Controller or any other person may be sent by post.
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(ii) In proving the sending it shall be sufficient to prove that the
letter was properly addressed, prepaid (when requisite) and posted.
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(b) The Controller may at his or her discretion allow submission of
documents by other means subject to such terms or conditions as may be
specified by him or her and published in the Journal.
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Translations.
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9. (1) Where a document or part thereof which is in a foreign
language is sent to the Controller in connection with any proceedings under
the Act or these Rules, a translation verified to the satisfaction of the
Controller shall also be furnished to the Controller.
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(2) The Controller may refuse to accept any translation which is in
his or her opinion inaccurate and thereupon another translation verified as
aforesaid shall be furnished, together with the appropriate number of copies
thereof.
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Address for service.
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10. (1) (a) Every applicant and any person concerned in any
proceeding under the Act or these Rules and every trade mark proprietor shall
give to the Controller an address for service in the State and that address
may for all purposes under the Act and these Rules be treated as the act ual
address of the person who has furnished it.
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(b) A letter addressed to such applicant, person or proprietor to his
or her address for service shall be deemed to be properly addressed.
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(2) For the purposes of this Rule, in a case where the person or
proprietor concerned desires that the address for service shall consist of
the address of an agent who is registered in the Register of Trade Mark
Agents, the Controller may accept an address for service comprising the name
of the agent so registered followed by a statement in the following terms:
"at his or her address as recorded for the time being in the Register of
Trade Mark Agents".
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(3) Where an address for service has not been given as required under
paragraph (1), the Controller shall send the person concerned notice to file
an address for service within two months of the date of the notice and if
that person fails to do so�
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(a) in the case of an applicant under section 37, 51, 52 or 67, the
application shall be treated as abandoned;
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(b) in the case of a person referred to in section 43(2) or 43(3),
the person shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the proceedings; and
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(c) in the case of a proprietor of a registered trade mark which is
the subject of an application under Rule 41, the proprietor shall not be
permitted to take part in proceedings.
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Revocation of existing rules
&c.
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11. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Rules specified in
Schedule 3 are hereby revoked.
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(2) The said Rules shall continue to apply to any matter to which by
virtue of section 100 of, and the Third Schedule to the Act, the Act of 1963
continues to apply.
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Application for Registration
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Application for registration.
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12. (1) The following documents are hereby prescribed for the
purpose of section 38:
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(a) a document indicating that registration of a trade mark is sought
and containing the name and address of the person requesting registration;
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(b) a document containing a representation of the mark the
registration of which is sought;
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(c) a document in which the goods or services in respect of which the
mark is to be registered are stated.
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(2) (a) An application for registration of a trade mark shall be made
in Form No. 1 and shall contain the information required by that Form.
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(b) Where a right to priority is claimed, the information required by
Form No. 1 concerning claims to priority shall be furnished in the Form.
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(3) (a) A representation of a mark shall not exceed 8cm x 8cm in size
unless the Controller, in the case of a specific application, agrees to a
greater size.
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(b) The Controller may request an applicant to submit additional
representations of a mark.
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(c) Where an application indicates that registration of a three-dimensional
mark is sought, the representation of the mark shall consist of a
photographic reproduction or a graphic representation of the mark. A number
of perspectives not exceeding 6 may be submitted. The representation which
most characteristically illustrates the mark shall be shown in the space
indicated in Form No. 1 and the additional perspectives shall be submitted on
separate sheets.
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(d) The Controller may give directions either generally, or by
reference to a specific application for registration, as to the furnishing
and form of representation of marks for the purpose of applications for
registration.
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(4) If an applicant states that a mark, when used, will be in a
particular colour (or colours), this fact shall be published by the Controller
when the application for registration has been accepted and shall be entered
in the register upon registration of the mark.
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(5) If the application fee was not submitted with the application and
is not received within a period of one month from the date of filing of an
application for registration as determined under section 38(1), the
application shall be deemed to have been abandoned at the end of that period.
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Claim to priority.
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13. Where a right to priority is claimed under section 40 or 41
there shall be filed, with the application or within 3 months of the date of
filing thereof, a certificate by the competent national authority verifying
to the Controller's satisfaction the date and country of filing, the
representation of the mark, the goods or services covered by the earlier
application and its filing number.
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Application may be for more
than one class.
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14. (1) A single application may be made for registration in
respect of one or more classes of the Nice Agreement.
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(2) Every application shall specify the class or classes to which it
relates and shall specify the goods or services relating to that class in
respect of which registration is sought.
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(3) The Controller may require the applicant to amend an application
which specifies goods or services by reference to a class in which they do
not fall, and to pay any additional class fee or fees which may be required.
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Matters not registrable.
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15. The Controller may refuse to accept any application for
the registration of a mark upon which any of the following appears in the
representation of the mark:�
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(a) the word "Patent", "Patented",
"Registered", "Copyright", or any other word or any
symbol with a like signification;
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(b) any badge, emblem, or device referred to in section 9(3) unless
the written consent of the appropriate public authority to the registration
is furnished to the Controller;
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(c) words or initials precluded from registration by section 31 of
the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961 (No. 20 of 1961).
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Procedure on Receipt of Application
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Search.
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16. (1) For the purposes of sections 10 and 11, the scope and
methodology of the search of earlier trade marks shall be as determined by
the Controller.
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(2) The Controller may at his or her discretion cause a search to be
renewed at any time before the acceptance of an application.
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Publication.
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17. An application for registration which has been accepted
shall be published in the Journal in such manner as the Controller may direct
and the Controller shall inform the applicant of the acceptance.
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Notice of opposition to
registration.
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18. (1) Notice of opposition under section 43 shall be sent to
the Controller within three months of the date of publication of the
application in the Journal.
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(2) The notice of opposition shall be submitted in duplicate
accompanied by the prescribed fee or evidence of payment thereof, and shall
include a statement of the grounds of opposition.
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(3) The Controller shall on receipt of the notice of opposition send
a copy to the applicant.
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Counter-statement.
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19. (1) Within three months of receipt by the applicant of a
copy of the notice of opposition, the applicant shall file a
counter-statement in duplicate with the Controller, accompanied by the
prescribed fee or evidence of payment thereof.
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(2) The Controller shall on receipt of a counter-statement forthwith
send a copy thereof to the opponent and failing receipt of a
counter-statement within the prescribed period the application shall be
deemed to have been withdrawn.
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Evidence in support of
opposition.
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20. (1) Within three months of receipt by the opponent of the
copy of the counter-statement under Rule 19, the opponent shall file with the
Controller such evidence by way of statutory declaration as he or she desires
to adduce in support of his or her opposition and shall send to the applicant
a copy thereof.
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(2) Unless the Controller otherwise directs, an opponent who fails to
file evidence under this Rule shall be deemed to have abandoned his or her
opposition and the Controller shall proceed with the application accordingly.
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Evidence in support of
application.
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21. If the person opposing the registration files evidence
under Rule 20, the applicant shall, within three months of receipt of a copy
of such evidence, file such evidence by way of statutory declaration as he or
she desires to adduce in support of the application with the Controller and
shall send a copy thereof to the opponent.
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Evidence in reply by opponent.
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22. (1) The opponent may, within two months of receipt of a
copy of the evidence filed with the Controller under Rule 21, file evidence
with the Controller by way of statutory declaration and shall deliver to the
applicant a copy thereof.
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(2) Evidence filed by the opponent under this Rule shall be confined
to matters strictly in reply.
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Further evidence
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23. No further evidence may be filed unless, in any
proceedings before the Controller, the Controller gives leave to either the
applicant or the opponent to file evidence upon such terms as to costs or
otherwise as the Controller may think fit.
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Exhibits.
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24. (1) (a) Where there are exhibits to declarations filed in
an opposition, a copy or impression of such exhibits shall be sent to the
other party unless such copy or impression cannot conveniently be furnished.
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(b) If such copy or impression cannot conveniently be furnished, the
originals shall be left with the Controller for inspection by the party
concerned, and any dispute arising as to whether a copy or impression can
conveniently be furnished, shall be determined by the Controller.
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(2) The original exhibits shall be produced at the hearing of an
opposition unless the Controller otherwise directs.
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Hearing.
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25. (1) Upon completion of the evidence the Controller shall
give notice to the parties of a date for a hearing, which shall be at least
21 days after the date of the notice unless the parties consent to a shorter
notice.
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(2) Within seven days of receipt of the notice, a party who intends
to appear at the hearing shall so notify the Controller and shall pay the
prescribed fee.
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(3) A party who fails to notify the Controller in accordance with
this Rule may be treated as not desiring to be heard, and the Controller may
act accordingly,
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Amendment of Application.
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26. (1) Where a notice under section 44(1) restricting the
goods or services covered by an application is received after publication of
the application in response to a notice of opposition under Rule 18(1) or in
the course of opposition proceedings the following provisions shall apply:
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(i) the Controller shall, following publication of the restriction,
inform the opponent of the restriction;
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(ii) an opponent who has been informed by the Controller in
accordance with subparagraph (i) shall, within one month of the date of the
communication from the Controller inform the Controller whether he or she
wishes to abandon his or her opposition, to amend the notice of opposition
filed under Rule 18 or to pursue the opposition on the basis of the notice of
opposition given;
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(iii) an opponent who does not respond to a communication from the
Controller under subparagraph (i) within the time allowed shall be deemed to
have expressed a wish to proceed with the notice of opposition as given.
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(iv) where an opponent decides, in response to a communication under
subparagraph (i), to amend the notice of opposition he or she shall inform
the Controller accordingly and shall, at the same time, furnish to the
Controller an amended notice of opposition in duplicate. A copy of the
amended notice shall be sent
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by the Controller to the applicant. The amended notice shall be
deemed to be the notice of opposition under Rule 18 and Rules 18 to 25 shall
apply accordingly;
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(v) where no notice of opposition had been given to the Controller
under section 43(2) before the publication of the notice restricting the
goods or services covered by an application, any notice of opposition under
section 43(2) shall relate to the published application as restricted by the
notice under section
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44(1); and the prescribed period for filing of notice of opposition
shall, in such case, be deemed to commence on the date on which the notice
restricting the goods or services was published by the Controller.
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(2) Where a request under section 44(3) to amend an application which
has been published is filed in response to a notice of opposition under Rule
18(1) or in the course of opposition proceedings, and the proposed amendment
affects the representation of the mark or the goods or services covered by
the application, the Controller shall publish the proposed amendment and the
provisions of subparagraphs (i) to (v) of paragraph (1) shall, subject to the
appropriate modifications, apply;
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(3) Where a request under section 44(3) to amend an application is
filed prior to the date of publication of the application and the proposed
amendment affects the representation of the mark or the goods or services
covered by the application, the Controller shall, if he or she accepts the
application, cause the application as amended to be published under section
43(1); and the provisions of Rules 18 to 25 shall thereupon apply.
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Notification of Controller's
decision and grounds.
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27. (1) The decision of the Controller in the exercise of any
discretionary power following a hearing before him or her shall be notified
to the party or parties concerned.
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(2) A written statement of the grounds of a decision under paragraph
(1) shall be furnished if application, accompanied by the prescribed fee, is
made to the Controller by a party to the hearing within one month from the
date of notification of the decision.
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(3) Where, following inter partes proceedings, a written
statement of grounds is furnished to one of the parties the Controller shall
furnish every other party with a copy of the statement.
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Division, Merger and Series of Marks
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Division of application.
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28. (1) (a) At any time before a notification of acceptance by
the Controller of an application has been issued, the applicant may send to
the Controller a request for a division of the application ("the
original application") into two or more separate applications
("divisional applications"), indicating for each divisional
application those goods or services of the original application which are to
be covered by it. A request for a division of an application shall be
accompanied by the prescribed fee.
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(b) A divisional application shall comply with the provisions of Rule
12(2) and (3) and shall be treated as a separate application for the purposes
of the Act and these Rules save that the fee prescribed for the purpose of
section 37(3) shall not be payable upon the filing of a divisional
application. A divisional application shall have the same date of filing and
priority date (if any) as the original application.
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(c) A request under subparagraph (a) shall, in relation to the
original application, have the effect that the goods or services which are to
be covered by any divisional application shall be excluded from the original
application.
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(2) Upon division of an original application in respect of which
notice had been given to the Controller of particulars relating to the grant
of a licence, or a security interest or any right in or under the mark, the
notice and the particulars shall be deemed to apply in relation to each of
the divisional applications.
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(3) An applicant may, after publication of an application, submit a
request for a division of the application in response to a notice of
opposition under Rule 18 or in the course of opposition proceedings; and
where the applicant does so, the Controller shall inform the opponent and the
provisions of Rule 26 (1), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall apply to the opposition
proceedings.
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Merger of separate
applications or registrations.
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29. (1) An applicant who has made separate applications for
registration of the same mark may, at any time before a notification of
acceptance of any of the applications has issued to the applicant, request
the Controller to merge the separate applications into a single application.
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(2) The Controller shall merge the applications into a single
application if satisfied that they all �
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(a) are in respect of the same trade mark, and
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(b) bear the same date of filing and priority date (if any),
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(3) Subject to the conditions in paragraph (4), a person who is the
registered proprietor of two or more marks separately registered in his or
her name may request the Controller to merge the separate registrations into
one single registration.
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(4) The conditions referred to in paragraph 3 are:
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(i) each of the separate registrations shall relate to the same mark
and have the same date of registration (as defined in section 45(3)) and
priority date, if any, pursuant to section 40 or 41;
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(ii) where a registrable transaction is recorded in the register, in
respect of any of the marks to be merged, the Controller shall not merge the
registrations unless the same transaction is recorded in respect of each of
the other marks;
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(iii) any of the marks shall not have been registered subject to any
disclaimer or limitation or, if so registered, the nature of the disclaimer
or limitation must be the same in respect of each mark.
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(5) The Controller shall, if satisfied that the separate
registrations may be merged following consideration of a request under
paragraph (3), determine the entry to be made in the register in relation to
the single registration.
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(6) Following the entry in the register referred to in paragraph (5),
the separate registrations shall be deemed to have been removed from the
register as of the date of the entry; and the entry shall be deemed to be a
registered trade mark for the purpose of the Act and these Rules.
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(7) The provisions of paragraphs (3) to (6) shall not apply in
relation to marks which are collective or certification marks.
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Registration of a series of
trade marks.
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30. (1) (a) The proprietor of a series of trade marks may
apply to the Controller for their registration as a series in a single
registration and there shall be included in such application a representation
of each mark claimed to be in the series.
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(b) The Controller may, if satisfied that the marks constitute a
series, register them in a single registration.
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(2) Where the proprietor of a registered series of trade marks
requests the Controller to delete a mark in that series, the Controller shall
record such deletion in the register.
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Collective and Certification Marks
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Application under section 54.
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31. (1) The applicant shall file regulations governing the use
of the mark with the Controller within six months of the date of application
for registration of a collective mark. The regulations shall be accompanied
by the prescribed fee.
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(2) For the purpose of paragraphs 7(2) and 7(3) of the First Schedule
to the Act, a period of 3 months from the date the specified conditions
referred to in these subparagraphs are notified to the applicant, is hereby
prescribed.
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(3) For the purpose of paragraph 8(1) of the First Schedule to the
Act, the regulations governing the use of the mark shall be open to public
inspection on and from the date of publication of the application in the
Journal and the period during which opposition to the regulations may be
given, or observations made thereon, shall be 3 months from the said date of
publication.
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(4) A notice of opposition under paragraph 8(1) of the First Schedule
to the Act shall contain a statement of the grounds of opposition and shall
be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
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(5) The Controller shall send a copy of a notice of opposition to the
applicant and shall, thereafter, determine the procedure to be followed
before deciding the issue.
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Amendment of regulations
governing use of collective marks.
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32. (1) Where regulations governing the use of a collective
mark are amended, the regulations, as amended, shall be submitted to the
Controller in accordance with paragraph 10 of the First Schedule to the Act.
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(2) Following acceptance of amended regulations, the Controller shall
publish a notice in the Journal indicating that copies of the amended
regulations are available for public inspection at the Office.
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Application under section 55.
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33. (1) The applicant shall file the regulations governing the
use of the mark and pay the fee prescribed for this purpose within six months
of the date of authorisation to proceed under paragraph 7(3) of the Second
Schedule to the Act. At the option of the applicant the regulations,
accompanied by the prescribed fee, may be filed with the Controller at an
earlier date.
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(2) Where the Controller authorises an application to proceed, a
report shall be furnished by him or her to the Minister thereon if the
applicant files the regulations referred to in paragraph (1) of this Rule.
The Minister may, if necessary, hear the applicant before giving a direction
under paragraph 8 of the Second Schedule to the Act.
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(3) For the purposes of paragraphs 8(2) and 8(3) of the Second
Schedule to the Act a period of 4 months from the date of the notification of
any conditions imposed by the Minister is hereby prescribed.
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(4) (a) For the purpose of paragraph 9 of the Second Schedule to the
Act, the regulations governing the use of the mark shall be open to public
inspection on and from the date of publication of the application in the
Journal in accordance with section 43(1) and the period during which
opposition may be given, or observations made, under the provisions of that
Paragraph shall be 3 months from the said date of publication.
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(b) A notice of opposition under paragraph 9 of the Second Schedule
to the Act shall contain a statement of the grounds of opposition and shall
be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
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(c) A notice of opposition shall be filed with the Minister and the
opponent shall, simultaneously, furnish the Controller with a copy. On receipt
of a notice of opposition the Minister shall send a copy of the notice to the
applicant and shall, thereafter, determine the procedure to be followed
before he or she decides the issue.
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Amendment of regulations
governing use of certification marks.
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34. (1) Where the proprietor of a registered certification
mark requests that the regulations governing the use of the mark be amended,
a draft of the regulations showing desired amendments thereon shall be
submitted to the Controller.
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(2) Where it appears expedient to do so, the Minister shall cause a
request to amend regulations under paragraph (1) of this Rule to be
published.
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(3) (a) Any person may, within three months of the date of the
publication under paragraph (2) of this Rule, give notice to the Minister of
opposition to the amended regulations on the grounds that they do not satisfy
paragraph 7(1)(a) of the Second Schedule to the Act or that the proprietor of
the mark is not competent to certify the goods or services for which the mark
is registered.
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(b) The notice of opposition shall be accompanied by a statement
setting out fully the grounds upon which the amended regulations are opposed.
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(4) A copy of any notice and statement under paragraph (3) of this
Rule shall be sent by the Minister to the proprietor.
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(5) The Minister shall not decide the matter without giving the
parties an opportunity to be heard.
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(6) Following the consent of the Minister to amended regulations the
Controller shall publish a notice in the Journal that copies of the amended
regulations are available for public inspection at the Office.
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Alterations and Surrender of Registered Trade Mark.
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Alteration of registered trade
mark.
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35. (1) An application under section 49(1) shall state the
reasons therefor and the Controller may require the submission by the
proprietor of evidence in support of the application.
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(2) Where an application under section 49(1) is advertised in the
Journal by the Controller, any notice of opposition under section 49(3) shall
be filed with the Controller within 3 months of the date of the advertisement
of the application. A notice of opposition shall state fully the grounds upon
which the application is opposed and shall be accompanied by the prescribed
fee. Upon receipt of a notice, the Controller shall send a copy thereof to
the proprietor and shall hear the parties, if so required, before he or she
decides the matter.
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Surrender of registered trade
mark.
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36. (1) A notification of surrender of a registered trademark
shall be submitted to the Controller and shall specify the goods or services
covered by the registration in respect of which the mark is being
surrendered.
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(2) The Controller shall not act upon a notice of surrender under
paragraph (1) unless the proprietor, in that notice �
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(a) certifies that he or she is not precluded by contract or other
agreement or arrangement from surrendering the mark,
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(b) specifies the name and address of each person entered in the
register as having an interest in the mark, and
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(c) certifies that each of the persons named under (b) has been
notified of the proprietor's intention to surrender the mark at least 3
months prior to the date of the notice to the Controller and that none of the
persons has objected to the surrender.
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(3) If it appears to the Controller from the register that a person
other than the proprietor has an interest in the mark and that person's name
is not included in the list referred to in paragraph (2)(b), the Controller
may require the proprietor to notify that person of the proposed surrender
and shall not act on the notice to surrender the mark until he or she is
satisfied that the person notified under this paragraph has not objected to
the surrender within the period specified in paragraph (2).
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(4) Where the proprietor has complied with the requirements of this
Rule, the Controller shall enter the surrender of a trade mark in the
register and notice of the surrender shall be published in the Journal.
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(5) As from the date of publication in the Journal of the notice
referred to in paragraph (4), the effects of registration shall, to the
extent that the mark has been surrendered, cease to apply; but no action for
infringement shall lie in respect of any act done before that date.
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Renewal and Restoration
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Reminder of renewal of
registration.
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37. At any time not earlier than six months nor later than one
month before the expiration of the registration of a trade mark or any
renewal thereof, the Controller shall (except where renewal has already been
effected under Rule 38) send to the registered proprietor notice that the
registration may be renewed as prescribed in that Rule and of the date of
expiry.
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Renewal of registration.
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38. An application for the renewal of the registration of a trade
mark shall be effected by filing a request for renewal under section 48 at
any time not earlier than six months before the expiration of the
registration or any renewal thereof as the case may be, accompanied by the
prescribed fee or evidence of payment thereof.
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Delayed renewal and removal of
registration.
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39. (1) If, on the expiration of the registration of a trade
mark or renewal thereof, the renewal fee has not been paid the Controller
shall publish that fact; and if, within six months from the date of the
expiration of the registration or renewal thereof, a request for renewal is
filed accompanied by the renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee, the
Controller shall renew the registration and shall inform the proprietor
thereof.
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(2) Where a request for renewal is not so filed together with the
prescribed renewal and additional fees, the Controller shall, subject to Rule
40, remove the mark from the register.
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(3) Where the date of issue of a certificate of registration of a
mark is later than two months prior to expiry of the period of 10 years
specified in section 47, the following provisions shall apply:
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(i) the period within which a request for renewal of registration
shall be filed under Rule 38 and the prescribed fee paid shall be the
unexpired term of the 10 year period or 6 weeks from the date of issue of the
certificate of registration, whichever is the later.
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(ii) the Controller shall not publish a notice of non-payment under
paragraph (1) until after the expiry of the appropriate period provided for
in subparagraph (i).
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(iii) the other provisions of this Rule shall apply subject to the
modifications in subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
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Restoration of registration.
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40. (1) Where a mark has been removed from the register for
failure to renew its registration the Controller may, upon a request filed
within six months of the date of publication of the removal of the mark
accompanied by the appropriate renewal fee and appropriate restoration fee,
restore the mark to the register and renew its registration if, having regard
to the circumstances of the failure to renew, the Controller is satisfied
that it is just to do so.
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(2) The restoration of the registration shall be published in the
Journal.
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Revocation, Invalidation and Rectification
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Procedure on application for
revocation, declaration of invalidity and rectification of the register.
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41. (1) An application to the Controller for revocation under
section 51 or for a declaration of invalidity under section 52 or for the
rectification of an error or omission in the register under section 67 shall
contain a statement of the grounds on which the application is made and shall
be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
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(2) Where any application is made under paragraph (1) of this Rule by
a person other than the proprietor of the registered trade mark, the
Controller shall send a copy of the application and the statement to the
proprietor.
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(3) Within three months of receipt by the proprietor of the copy of
the application and the statement the proprietor may file a notice of
opposition with the Controller and the Controller shall send a copy thereof
to the applicant:
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Provided that where an application for revocation under section 51(4)
is based on a ground of non-use specified in section 5l(1)(a) or (b), the
proprietor shall file with the notice of opposition evidence of the use by
him or her of the mark; and upon failure to do so, the Controller may dismiss
the opposition and grant the application.
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(4) The Controller may require the submission to him or her of any
further evidence, statement or counter-statement within such time as he or
she may decide. Subject to the proviso in paragraph (3) above, the Controller
shall hear the parties, if so required, before deciding upon an application.
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The Register
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Form of register.
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42. The register required to be kept by the Controller under
section 66(1) may be kept in such form as the Controller may determine.
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Entry in register of
particulars of registered trade marks.
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43. Upon registration, there shall be entered in the register
in respect of each trade mark the following particulars �
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(a) the date of registration as determined in accordance with section
45(3) (that is to say, the date of the filing of the application for
registration);
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(b) the date of publication of the registration as provided for in
section 45(5);
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(c) the priority date (if any) claimed pursuant to section 40 or 41;
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(d) the name and address of the proprietor;
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(e) the address for service furnished pursuant to Rule 10 above;
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(f) any disclaimer or limitation subject to which the mark is
registered;
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(g) the goods or services in respect of which the mark is registered
and their class or classes;
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(h) where the mark is a collective or certification mark, that fact;
and
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(i) any consent pursuant to section 10(6) by the proprietor of an
earlier trade mark or other earlier right to which that section relates.
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Entry in register of
particulars of registrable transactions.
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44. For the purpose of section 29 the following are the
particulars to be entered in the register in relation to registrable
transactions;
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(a) in the case of an assignment of a registered trade mark or any
right in it �
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(i) the name and address of the assignee,
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(ii) the nature and date of the document upon which the interest of
the assignee is based, and
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(iii) where the assignment is in respect of any right in the mark, a
description of the right assigned;
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(b) in the case of the grant or assignment of a licence under a
registered trade mark �
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(i) the name and address of the licensee,
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(ii) whether or not the licence is an exclusive or non-exclusive
licence,
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(iii) where the licence is limited, a description of the limitation,
and
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(iv) the duration of the licence if the same is, or is ascertainable
as, a definite period;
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(c) in the case of the grant of any security interest over a
registered trade mark or any right in or under it �
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(i) the name and address of the grantee,
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(ii) the nature of the interest (whether fixed or floating), and
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(iii) the extent of the security and the right in or under the mark
secured;
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(d) in the case of the making by a personal representative of a
vesting assent in relation to a registered trade mark or any right in or
under it �
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(i) the name and address of the person in whom the mark or any right
in or under it vests by virtue of the assent,
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(ii) the date of the assent; and
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(iii) the nature of the vesting assent;
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(e) in the case of an order of a court or other competent authority
transferring a registered trade mark or any right in or under it �
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(i) the name and address of the transferee,
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(ii) the date and particulars of the order, and
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(iii) where the transfer is in respect of a right in the mark, a
description of the right transferred;
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and in each case, there shall be entered the date on which the entry
is made.
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Application to register
transactions under section 29.
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45. (1) An application under section 29(1) shall �
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(a) where the transaction is an assignment, be signed by or on behalf
of the parties to the assignment;
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(b) where the transaction falls into any of the other categories
specified in section 29(2) (b) to (d), be signed by or on behalf of the
grantor of the right.
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(2) An application under section 29(1) shall be accompanied by the
prescribed fee and by a certified copy of the instrument or document upon
which the claim of the person whose title or interest is to be entered in the
register is based.
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(3) Where a transaction is effected by an instrument chargeable with
duty, the applicant shall satisfy the Controller that the instrument has been
duly stamped.
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Notices under section 31.
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46. (1) Notices given to the Controller in pursuance of
section 31 shall comply with the requirements specified in Rule 45 in respect
of applications under section 29(1).
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(2) If a notice pursuant to section 31 relates to an assignment and
it appears to the Controller from the notice and accompanying documents that
the assignee should be recorded in the register as the proprietor of the
trade mark in question, if registered, the entry to be made in the register
in pursuance of Rule 43(d) shall be construed accordingly.
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(3) If a notice pursuant to section 31 relates to a licence, a
security interest, a vesting assent or an order of a court and it appears to
the Controller in the case of any such transaction that it applies to the
trade mark, if and when registered, the Controller shall, upon registration,
enter the relevant particulars in the register.
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Public inspection of register.
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47. The register shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, be
open to public inspection at the Office during the hours each day that the
Office itself is open to the public.
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Supply of certified copies,
&c.
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48. The Controller shall on request accompanied by the
prescribed fee supply a certified copy or extract or uncertified copy or
extract of any entry in the register.
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Request for change of name or
address in register.
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49. (1) The Controller shall, on request accompanied by the
prescribed fee, by the proprietor of a registered trade mark or a licensee,
enter any change in the name or address of the person making the request as
recorded in the register and the person concerned shall be informed when the
change is made in the register.
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(2) The Controller may at any time, on request by any person who has
furnished an address for service under Rule 10, if the address is recorded in
the register, change it and the person concerned shall be informed when the
change is made in the register.
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Change of classification.
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50. (1) Where, in pursuance of section 68(1), the Controller
proposes to amend existing entries in the register, the Controller shall give
the proprietor of the mark written notice of his or her proposals and shall
publish the proposals in the Journal.
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(2) Notice of opposition to the proposals may be filed within three
months of the date of publication of the proposals. A notice shall state the
grounds of opposition and shall include in particular, any grounds based on
matters to which section 68(3) relates.
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(3) The Controller may require or admit any evidence which he or she
considers relevant to the questions at issue and, if so requested by any
opponent, give that opponent an opportunity to be heard thereon before
deciding the matter.
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(4) If no notice of opposition under paragraph (2) of this Rule is
filed within the time specified, the Controller shall amend the register in
accordance with the proposals published under paragraph (1).
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Registered Trade Mark Agents
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Application for registration.
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51. (1) An application under section 86 for registration in
the Register of Trade Mark Agents shall be made in writing to the Controller,
shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee and shall contain:�
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(a) in case the applicant is an individual, the first names,
surname, date of birth, nationality and private address of the individual,
the name or style under which he or she carries on or proposes to carry on business
as a registered trade mark agent (if other than his or her full name), and a
statement of his or her educational and professional qualifications,
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(b) in case the applicant is a partnership, the first names,
surname, date of birth and nationality of each of the partners, the name or
style under which the partnership carries on or proposes to carry on business
as a registered trade mark agent, and a statement that all the partners are
registered in the Register of Trade Mark Agents,
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(c) the address at which the applicant carries on or proposes
to carry on business as a registered trade mark agent,
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(d) in case the applicant is an individual who proposes to
become a member of a partnership, the full name or style under which and the
address at which the partnership carries on, or proposes to carry on,
business as a registered trade mark agent.
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(2) Applications for registration in the Register of Trade Mark
Agents shall be considered by a Board consisting of the Controller and other
persons nominated for the purpose by the Minister.
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(3) For the purposes of section 86 a person shall possess such
educational and professional qualifications and be of such personal character
as to satisfy the Board, after such inquiries, including such oral or written
examination in the law and practice of trade marks, as the Board deems
necessary, that such person is fit to practise as a registered trade mark
agent.
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Proof of authorisation of
agent may be required
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52. The Controller may by notice in writing sent to an agent
require the agent to produce evidence of the agent's authority.
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Entry in the Register of Trade
Mark Agents.
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53. (a) Subject to the provisions of section 86 and
these Rules, an applicant shall, upon payment of the prescribed fee, be registered
by the Controller in the Register of Trade Mark Agents.
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(b) The entry in that register shall include the date of
registration and, in case the applicant is a partnership, the business name
and address thereof and the full name and private address and particulars of
the qualifications for entry of each of the partners or, in any other case,
the full name, business name (if any), private and business address of the
applicant together with particulars of the applicant's qualifications for
entry, and such other particulars as the Controller considers desirable.
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(c) Where the address of an applicant who has been entered in
the register changes, the Controller shall record the new address on receipt
of a written request from the person concerned.
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Publication of entries in
Register of Trade Mark Agents.
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54. The Controller shall publish in the Journal particulars of
entries in the Register of Trade Mark Agents, and shall so publish before the
end of March in each year a list in alphabetical order of the names entered
in that register.
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Payment of annual registration
fee.
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55. The prescribed annual fee in respect of each registration
shall be payable before the 1st day of December in each year in respect of
the following year, and in case it is not paid within one month from that
date the Controller shall send to the registered trade mark agent at such
agent's registered business address a notice in writing requiring such agent
to pay the fee on or before a date to be mentioned in the notice, and in the
case of failure to pay the fee within the time specified in the notice the
Controller may cause the name of such agent to be erased from the Register of
Trade Mark Agents.
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Request for removal from
Register of Trade Mark Agents.
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56. Any person registered in the Register of Trade Mark Agents
desiring to be removed therefrom shall make a request to that effect in
writing to the Controller, who shall thereupon amend that Register
accordingly.
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Notice to Controller of
application to the Court under subsection (3) of section 88.
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57. Where a person applies to the Court under section 88(3)
for cancellation of a decision by the Controller, the notice to the
Controller of such application shall be in writing and shall be given at the
time when the person so applies to the Court. The notice shall be accompanied
by a copy of the application.
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Application for restoration to
Register of Trade Marks Agents.
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58. (1) A person desiring to be restored to the Register of
Trade Mark Agents under section 89(3) shall make an application to that
effect in writing to the Controller.
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(2) An application under section 89(4) shall be in writing.
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Controller may refuse to deal
with certain agents.
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59. The Controller may refuse to recognise in respect of any
business under the Act �
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(a) an individual whose name has been erased from and not
restored to, or who is suspended from, the Register of Trade Mark Agents;
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(b) a person who is found by the Minister to have been guilty
of such conduct as would, in the case of an individual registered in that
register, render such person liable to have his or her name erased from it on
the ground of misconduct;
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(c) a partnership or body corporate of which one of the
partners or directors is a person whom the Controller could refuse to
recognise under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule;
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(d) any solicitor whose name has been struck off the role of
solicitors maintained under the Solicitors Acts, 1954 to 1994, and has not
since been restored.
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Powers and Duties of Controller, Evidence and Costs
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Provision of information and
inspection of documents.
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60. (1) In addition to any other information or documents
which the Controller is under the Act or these Rules authorised or obliged to
provide or to make available for inspection, the following provisions of this
Rule shall apply in relation to information or documents relating to
applications for registration of trademarks and registered trademarks.
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(2) Following the filing of applications for registration, the Controller
shall permit the inspection of copies of the applications as made in
accordance with Rule 12(2) and of certificates filed under Rule 13.
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(3) For the purpose of section 70(1), the following documents and
information are hereby prescribed �
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(a) the documents in paragraph (2);
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(b) any written statements of the grounds of decisions of the
Controller which have been prepared in respect of inter partes
proceedings;
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(c) notices of opposition submitted under Rule 18;
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(d) applications under Rule 35(1);
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(e) notifications of surrender under Rule 36(1);
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(f) applications under Rule 41(1);
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(g) in relation to an application for registration, information as to
whether, prior to its publication, a notice was given or a request made under
section 44 and the outcome of any such notice or request;
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(h) any instrument or document submitted to the Controller under Rule
45(2) which is retained in the Office and which the person who submitted it
agrees may be inspected;
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(4) A request under section 70(1) shall be in writing. If the request
is for the provision of information, it shall be accompanied by the
prescribed fee.
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(5) Where a request is for the inspection of documents, the
Controller shall inform the person making it of the time, or times, at which
the documents specified in the request may be inspected at the Office. The
prescribed fee for inspection of documents at the Office shall be paid at the
time the inspection takes place.
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Hearing
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61. (1) For the purposes of section 71 the Controller shall
give the applicant, proprietor or party concerned notice that he or she may
be heard.
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(2) Save as otherwise provided by these Rules, an application for a
hearing shall be made within ten days from the date of notice by the
Controller under paragraph (1) and shall be accompanied by the prescribed
fee.
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(3) Upon receiving an application for a hearing the Controller shall
notify any other party to the proceedings and if such a party desires to
attend and be heard he or she shall inform the Controller accordingly within
10 days of notification and pay the prescribed fee. The Controller shall give
the party or parties concerned not less than ten days' notice of the time of
the hearing unless the parties consent to shorter notice.
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(4) A party who fails to attend a hearing appointed in accordance
with this Rule may be treated as not desiring to be heard and the Controller
may act accordingly.
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(5) If in inter partes proceedings either party intends to
refer at the hearing to any document not already mentioned in the
proceedings, he or she shall give to the other party and to the Controller at
least 7 days' notice of his or her intention, together with details of each
document to which he or she intends to refer.
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Controller's power to require
documents, information or evidence.
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62. The Controller may, at any stage of any proceedings before
him or her, direct that such documents, information or evidence as he or she
may require shall be filed within such period as he or she may specify.
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General power to enlarge time.
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63. (1) The time or periods:
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(a) prescribed by these Rules, other than the times or periods
prescribed by the rules mentioned in paragraph (2) below, or
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(b) specified by the Controller for doing any act or taking any
proceedings,
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may, at the request of the person or party concerned, be extended by
the Controller if he or she thinks fit, upon such notice to any other person
or party affected and upon such terms as he or she may direct.
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(2) The Rules excepted from paragraph (1) of this Rule are Rule 10(3)
(failure to file address for service), Rule 12(5) (time limit for payment of
application fee), Rule 18(1) (time for filing opposition to registration),
Rule 19(1) (time for filing counter-statement), Rule 39 (delayed renewal) and
Rule 40 (restoration of registration).
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(3) Subject to paragraph (4) below, a request for extension under
paragraph (1) above shall be made before the time or period in question has
expired.
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(4) If the request under paragraph (1) is made not later than two
months after the expiry of the time or period in question the Controller may,
at his or her discretion, extend the period or time if he or she is satisfied
with the explanation for the delay in requesting the extension and it appears
to him or her that any extension would not disadvantage any other person or
party affected by it. A person availing of the provisions of this paragraph
shall pay the prescribed fee at the time the request for extension is made.
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(5) Where the period within which any party to proceedings before the
Controller may file evidence under these Rules is to begin upon the expiry of
any period in which any other party may file evidence and that other party
notifies the Controller that he or she does not wish to file any, or any
further, evidence the Controller may direct that the period within which the
first mentioned party may file evidence shall begin on such date as may be
specified in the direction and shall notify all parties to the dispute of
that date.
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(6) Where any period of time specified in the Act or these Rules for
the giving, making or filing of any notice, application or other document
expires on a day certified by the Controller as being one on which there is a
general interruption or subsequent dislocation in the postal service of the
State, the period shall be extended to the first day following the end of the
period of interruption or dislocation.
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Costs.
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64. (1) In the event of an opposition to the registration of a
mark being uncontested by the applicant the Controller, in deciding whether
costs should be awarded to the opponent shall consider whether proceedings
might have been avoided if reasonable notice had been given by the opponent
to the applicant before the notice of opposition was lodged.
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(2) The States prescribed for the purposes of section 72(2) are the
other Member States of the European Communities.
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Statutory Declarations
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Form of statutory declaration.
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65. (a) A statutory declaration required by the Act or these
Rules or used in any proceedings before the Controller thereunder shall be
headed in the matter to which it relates and shall be drawn up in the first
person, and shall be divided into paragraphs consecutively numbered, and each
paragraph shall so far as is possible be confined to one subject.
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(b) Every statutory declaration shall state the description and true
place of abode of the person making the declaration, and shall bear the name
and address of the person leaving it and shall state on whose behalf it is
left.
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Statutory declaration made
outside the State.
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66. A statutory declaration required by the Act or these Rules
or used in any proceedings before the Controller thereunder shall, if made
and subscribed outside the State, be made and subscribed before a person
authorised by law to administer an oath in the country in which it is made.
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Notice of seal of officer
taking declaration to prove itself.
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67. Any document purporting to have affixed, impressed, or
subscribed thereto or thereon the seal or signature of any person authorised
to take a declaration, in testimony that the declaration was made and
subscribed before such person, may be admitted by the Controller without
proof of the genuineness of the seal or signature, or of the official
character of the person or such person's authority to take the declaration.
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Applications to and Orders of Court
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Application to Court.
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68. Every application to the Court under the Act in relation
to any matter which is a function of the Controller shall be notified
forthwith to the Controller by the applicant.
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Order of Court.
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69. (a) Where an order has been made by the Court in any
matter under the Act relating to a function of the Controller, the person in
whose favour the order has been made, or such one of them if there is more
than one, as the Controller may direct, shall forthwith leave at the Office
an attested copy thereof.
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(b) The register shall, if necessary, thereupon be rectified or
altered by the Controller.
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Miscellaneous
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Excluded days.
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70. Whenever the last day fixed by the Act, or by these Rules,
for doing any act or thing at the Office falls on any of the days on which
the Office is not open (which days shall be excluded days for the purposes of
the Act and these Rules), it shall be lawful to do any such act or thing on
the first day which is not an excluded day next following such excluded day,
or days, if two or more of them occur consecutively.
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Searches.
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71. On application, accompanied by payment of the prescribed
fee, the Controller may cause a search to be made in respect of specified
goods or services to ascertain whether or not at the date of the search any
mark is on record which resembles a trade mark of which duplicate
representations accompany the application, and shall cause the person making
such request to be notified of the result of the search.
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Pending applications for
registration.
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72. (1) Where an application which was pending at the
commencement of the Act is to be dealt with in accordance with the old law,
the provisions of Rule 73 as regards the issue by the Controller of a request
for payment of the fee for registration and the time within which such fee
shall be paid shall apply to such application if the fee for registration had
not been paid at commencement.
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(2) (i) Where, in relation to an application to which paragraph (1)
applies, the date of issue of the certificate of registration of the mark
concerned is later than 2 months prior to the expiry of a period of seven
years from the date of filing of that application, the period within which an
application shall be made for renewal of the registration of the mark shall
be the unexpired term of the seven year period or six weeks from the date of
issue of the certificate of registration, whichever is the later.
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(ii) In relation to an application to which subparagraph (i) applies,
a notice of non-payment of a registration renewal fee shall be published by
the Controller upon expiry of the appropriate period provided for in that subparagraph
if the fee remains unpaid at the expiry of that period.
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(iii) Subject to paragraph (ii), paragraphs (1) and (2) of Rule 39
shall apply.
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Time limit for payment of fees
required for registration.
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73. The prescribed period for the purposes of section 45(2)
shall be two months from the date of issue by the Controller of a request for
payment of the fee prescribed for registration.
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Power to dispense with
evidence, signature, &c.
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74. Where, under these Rules, any person is required to do any
act or to sign any document, or to make any declaration on behalf of himself
or of any body corporate, or any document or evidence is required to be
produced to or left with the Controller or at the Office, and it is shown to
the satisfaction of the Controller that from any reasonable cause such person
is unable to do such act or thing or to sign such document or to make such
declaration or that such document or evidence cannot be produced or left as
aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the Controller, upon the production of such
evidence and subject to such terms as he or she thinks fit, to dispense with
any such act or thing, signature, declaration, document or evidence.
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General power of amendment.
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75. Any document for the amending of which no special
provision is made by the Act or these Rules may be amended, and any
irregularity in procedure which in the opinion of the Controller may be
obviated without detriment to the interests of any person may be corrected,
if and on such terms and in such manner as the Controller thinks fit;
provided that, without prejudice to the Controller's power to extend any time
or periods under Rule 63 and except where such irregularity is attributable
wholly or in part to an error, default or omission on the part of the Office,
the Controller shall not direct that any period of time specified in the Act
or Rules shall be altered.
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Partial assignments.
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76. (1) Where an assignment of a registered trade mark is
limited so that it applies in relation to some only of the goods or services
for which the mark is registered, Rule 45 shall apply in respect of an
application to the Controller under section 29.
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(2) The Controller shall enter in the register the relevant
particulars in relation to the assignment.
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(3) At the same time as the entry referred to in paragraph (2) is
made, the Controller shall register the mark in the name of the assignee as
proprietor in respect of the goods or services to which the assignment
relates; and such registration shall, for the purposes of the Act and these
Rules, be deemed to be an independent registration.
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(4) Where an assignment of a registered trade mark is limited so that
it applies in relation to use of the mark in a particular manner or in a
particular locality, the provisions of paragraphs (1) to (3) shall, with the
necessary modifications, apply in respect of any application under section
29; and, in addition, the following provisions shall apply:
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(i) in the case of an assignment which is limited so that it applies
in relation to use of a trade mark in a particular manner, the registration
pursuant to paragraph (3) shall include the representation of the mark in the
particular manner in which it is to be used;
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(ii) in the case of an assignment which is limited so that it applies
in relation to use of the mark in a particular locality, the registration
pursuant to paragraph (3) shall have effect as if it resulted from an
application for registration in respect of which the applicant had agreed to
a territorial limitation to the same effect under the provisions of section
17.
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Non-exclusive licence.
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77. (1) The Controller may, on application therefor to him or
her in writing by a person and on payment of the prescribed fee, grant or
refuse to grant to the person a licence (referred to in this rule as a
non-exclusive licence) authorising the use by that person of part or all of
the computerised trade mark data base open to public inspection.
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(2) A non-exclusive licence shall be subject to such conditions and
restrictions (if any) as the Controller may impose, at the time of the grant
of the licence or subsequently, and specify in the licence or in another
document given or sent to the holder of the licence.
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(3) The Controller may, if he or she is satisfied that there has been
a contravention of a condition or restriction of a non-exclusive licence,
revoke the licence.
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(4) A non-exclusive licence shall, unless previously revoked remain
in force until such period as may be determined by the Controller.
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Form for conversion of pending
application.
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78. A notice to the Controller under paragraph 9(3) of the
Third Schedule to the Act, claiming to have the registrability of a mark
determined in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall be in Form
No. 2.
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Forms.
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79. The forms mentioned in these Rules are those set out in
Schedule 2.
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Schedule 1
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Fees Payable
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Rule 4
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�
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1. On application to register a trade mark under section 37:
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60
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2. Class fees �
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(i) for each class over one:
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60
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(ii) for each additional class to which rule 14(3) refers:
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60
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3. Application for a hearing:
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50
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4. Notice of opposition: (a) to the registration of a mark (rule
18); (b) to the regulations relating to a collective or certification trade
mark (rule 31(4) or rule 33(4)(b)); or (c) to the alteration of a
registered trade mark (rule 35):
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50
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5. On lodging a counterstatement (rule 19):
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30
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6. On request for a written statement on the grounds of a decision
made by the Controller (rule 27(2)):
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150
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7. On notice under section 44(1) or on request under section 44(3)
to amend an application:
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30
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8. On request for division of application (rule 28):
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100
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9. On request to merge either applications or registrations (rule
29):
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100
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10. On filing of regulations governing the use of a certification
or collective mark (rule 31 or rule 33):
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100
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11. On request to amend regulations governing the use of a
certification or collective mark (rule 32 or rule 34):
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100
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12. On notification of surrender of a registered trade mark (rule
36):
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50
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13. Renewal of registration (rule 38):
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200
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Class fee for each class over one:
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100
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Additional fee for renewal of registration (rule 39(1)):
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50
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14. On request for the restoration and renewal of a registration
removed from the register for failure to renew (rule 40):
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100
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15. On request for revocation or invalidation of a registration, or
rectification of an error or omission in the register (rule 41):
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100
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16. On application to record a registrable transaction (rule 45):
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50
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17. On request for any of the matters referred to in rule 48:
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20
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18. On request for alteration of a trade mark (rule 35) or for a
change of name or address (rule 49):
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50
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19. On request for information about an application or a registered
trade mark (rule 60) for each item of information requested:
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20
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20. On request for extension of time (rule 63(4)) for each month of
extension beyond the prescribed period:
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50
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21. On application to register of a transaction under section 29
(rule 45) and on notice under section 31 (rule 46):
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(i) for one mark
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50
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(ii) for each other mark included in the application
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5
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22. For registration of a trade mark �
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(i) where the application is dealt with in accordance with the Act
of 1963:
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81
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(ii) in any other case:
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140
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23. On request for a search under rule 71 in respect of one class:
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30
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24. For making a search by means of the Patents Office's
computerised trade mark search system, of the classified representations of
trade mark data, kept at the Office on computer and open to public
inspection, and for a print-out or output to electronic media or paper of
the results of the search:
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(i) for each quarter of an hour or part thereof:
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10
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(ii) for each record in excess of 30 relating to a trade mark in
the computer print-out to paper:
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0.25
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25. For inspection of all or any part of the trade mark register
available on computer: for each quarter of an hour of part thereof:
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10
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26. For (a) inspection of the register or any document open to
public inspection, or (b) for making a search amongst such classified representations
of trade marks as are made available on paper for each quarter of an hour
or part thereof:
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2.50
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27. For computer print-out or output to electronic media/paper of
trade mark data open to public inspection other than as at item 24:
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(i) for each trade mark record in respect of which data is
requested other than as at (ii):
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20
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(ii) for each trade mark record sought on the basis of time period
or sequence number, by persons complying with conditions imposed by the
Controller, the fees set out as at item 29.
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28. For access, by means of telephone or other data transmission
media from outside the Patents Office, to the information specified in
items 24 and 25 for the purpose of searching or inspecting such information
and for a computer print-out of the results of the search, the appropriate
fee set out in those items, and in addition:
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250
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29. On application for an authorisation under rule 77
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100
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and
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(i) in the case of a search of the trademark database made
available under rule 77 carried out by a person other than the licensee, an
additional fee of 20 per cent. of any fee charged by the licence for the
use of that database.
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(ii) in the case of such a search by the licensee, an additional
fee of �7 in respect of the search of the first class and �1 in respect of
each subsequent class.
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30. For photocopying documents, per page:
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0.25
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31. For certifying office copies, manuscripts, typed printed or
photographic, each:
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3
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32. On giving notice under paragraph 9 of the Third Schedule to the
Trade Marks Act, 1996 :
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50
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33. On application for registration in the Register of Trade Mark
Agents:
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200
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34. For registration in the Register of Trade Mark Agents:
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100
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35. Annual fee for renewal of registration as a trade mark agent
payable before 1st December each year in respect of the following year.
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200
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Schedule 2
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FORMS
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Form No. 1
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Application for registration of a trade mark.
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Form No. 2
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Notice under paragraph 9(2) of the Third Schedule to the
Trade Marks Act, 1996 .
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Form No. 1
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Reference No. of Applicant or Authorised
Agent....................
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APPLICATION FOR
REGISTRATION OF A TRADE MARK
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The Applicant(s) named herein hereby request(s) the registration of the
trade mark, the representation of which is shown below, on the basis of the
following information:
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1. Applicants(s)
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Name:
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Nationality and Address:
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2. Representation of Mark (not to exceed 8cm x 8cm):
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Type of Mark (please indicate as appropriate if the present
application relates to any of the following)
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a collective mark
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a certification mark
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a series of trade marks
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a three-dimensional mark (If this is relevant any additional
perspectives much be shown on separate sheets).
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3. Goods/Services
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The goods/services in respect of which registration of the mark
represented at 2 is requested are:
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Number of Class:
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Goods/Services Description
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4. Use of Mark (indicate as appropriate)
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It is hereby declared, in relation to the goods/services indicated at
3,
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that the mark to which this application relates is being used by the
Applicant(s) or with the consent of the Applicant(s)
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that the Applicant(s) indicated at 1 has/have a bona fide intention
that the mark to which this application relates should be used in relation to
the goods/services indicated at 3
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5. Claim to priority (give the information below where a right to
priority is claimed)
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A right of priority is claimed on the basis of an earlier application
for registration of the mark as represented in 2, which was filed in a
country or territory within the meaning of section 40 or 41 in respect of the
same, or some of, the goods/services to which the present application
relates. The details of the earlier application are as follows:
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Country/Territory
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Date of Filing
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6. Colour (complete where appropriate)
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The mark, in use, is/will be in the
colour(s)..............................(please specify) and the Applicant
wishes that upon registration the Register shall contain an indication to
that effect.
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7. Disclaimer or Limitation (indicate and complete as appropriate)
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Right to the exclusive use of the following element(s) of the mark is
disclaimed:
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The rights conferred by registration of the mark shall be subject to
the following limitations:
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8. Registered Trade Mark Agent Authorised
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The following has been appointed to act on behalf of the Applicant(s)
in all proceedings connected with this application for registration and any
proceedings arising subsequent to registration.
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9. Address for Service (indicate and complete as appropriate)
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same as at 8
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state hereunder the address where no Agent authorised to act
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10. Fees:
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The prescribed fees in the amount of � .............are enclosed with
this application.
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11. Signature (the application may be signed by or on behalf of the
Applicant(s) or by the Agent named at 8).
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Date:
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To: The Controller of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks,
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45 Merrion Square,
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Dublin 2.
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Form No. 2
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Notice under
paragraph 9(2) of Third Schedule to the Trade Marks Act, 1996
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1. Application No.
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2. Name and address of Applicant(s)
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3. Notice
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The Applicant(s) named herein hereby gives/give notice to the
Controller that the registrability of the mark, the subject of the
application identified above, is to be determined in accordance with the
provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1996 .
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It is acknowledged that this Notice is irrevocable.
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Signed:
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Date:
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Schedule 3
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Rule 11
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Rules Revoked
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Statutory
Instrument Number
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Title
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No. 268
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Trade Marks Rules, 1963
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No. 76
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Trade Marks Rules, 1963 (Amendment) Rules, 1964
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No. 35
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Register of Trade Mark Agent Rules, 1964
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No. 371
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Register of Trade Mark Agent (Amendment) Rules, 1985
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No. 313
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Trade Marks Rules, 1963 (Amendment) Rules, 1992.
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GIVEN under my
Official Seal, this 27th day of June, 1996.
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RICHARD BRUTON
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Minister for Enterprise and
Employment
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The fees
prescribed by the foregoing Rules are hereby
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sanctioned by the
Minister for Finance.
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GIVEN under the
Official Seal of the Minister for Finance, this
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27th day of June,
1996.
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RUAIRI QUINN
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Minister for
Finance
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